Breast Unit
Meet the Team
Medical Staff
Radiologists
Dr Claudia Betancourt, MD, Consultant Radiologist, graduated from the Colombian School of Medicine in Bogota, Colombia in 1986 and then trained in Radiology in Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota Hospital from 1991 to 1994.
Later she worked and trained in Oncology Imaging at the Cancer Institute in Bogota where she was appointed Clinical Lead for the Radiology Department in 1996 for 8 years.
In 2004 she moved to the UK and joined the Breast Unit at the RUH in Bath and the NHS Breast Screening Programme in Bristol. Dr Betancourt has a broad experience in Breast MRI.
Dr. Helen Burt BSc (Hons) MBChB (Hons) FRCR
Dr. Helen Burt is a Consultant Radiologist with subspecialist interests in training and breast imaging. She graduated from Bristol University in 2010 and completed her specialist clinical radiology training through the Severn Deanery locally in 2018.
She qualified as a therapy radiographer in 1993, specialising in planning and administering radiotherapy, working at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre and Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto until 2005 when she started Medical School. She has always pursued keen interests in diagnosis, oncology and education and started work at the Royal United Hospital in 2018 upon completion of her radiology training.
She works within the Bath Breast Unit and also one day per week for the Avon breast screening unit based at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. She is keen to promote education and research within breast imaging.
Dr Diana Dalgliesh, MB ChB, DCH, MRCGP, Associate Specialist Breast Physician.
Dr Dalgliesh graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 1989 and worked in paediatrics and A+E in Cape town. She continued her training in Paris for 18 months prior to moving to UK in 1995.
She qualified as a GP and worked in practice between 1995 and 2002. Dr Dalgliesh developed a specific interest in breast disease and became a sessional doctor in the Breast Surgical clinic in 1998. She moved on to specialise in breast radiology from 2002. She was awarded the Certificate in Breast Evaluation in 2009.
She currently works as Associate Specialist Breast Physician at RUH (Bath) and Avon Breast Screening (Bristol).
She is clinical lead for the Family History Breast Service.
Dr Georgina Devenish MBBCH FRCR, is a consultant radiologist with a subspecialist interest and training in Breast Radiology.
She graduated from Cardiff University in 2009 and completed her specialist radiology training in South Wales radiology training scheme and achieved FRCR in 2014.
She moved to Bath in 2016 when she joined the Breast team and General Radiology Department in Royal United Hospital. She provides oncologic imaging support to the breast MDT and is interested in new technological advancements in the field of breast imaging.
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Pathologist
Dr Chris Meehan, Pathologist, went to Medical School in Glasgow and studied for an Intercalated Science Degree in Pathology in 1985 and completed his Medical Studies in 1987.
Following his year of house jobs in Glasgow, he trained in Edinburgh and Southampton. He was appointed as Consultant in the RUH in 1995.
He has been the Lead for Breast Pathology for the last twelve years.
Clinical Assistant
Dr Wayte works with the team as a Clinical Assistant. He also works as a GP in a Bath practice and has special interest in breast problems.
Dr Wayte trained at Bristol University, qualifying in 1980. He did his further training in Bristol and Bath, qualifying as a GP in 1987. He has worked at the Breast Unit since 1998.
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Surgeons
Education:
Miss Chrissie Laban BSc, MRCS, MD, FRCS
Appointed to the RUH:
2017
Miss Chrissie Laban BSc, MRCS, MD, FRCS is a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon. She graduated from St Bartholomew's Medical School in 1996.
After qualifying as a junior doctor she was awarded an MD for research into breast cancer cell growth, resulting in multiple national and international presentations and publications.
She completed her surgical training in Wessex and went on to undertake a year as an Oncoplastic breast surgical senior registrar in Edinburgh. She has previously worked as a locum Breast Consultant surgeon in Nottingham and Bournemouth for one year, specialising in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery.
Education:
Mr Sutton, MBBS (London 1990), FRCS (Eng 1996), FRCS (Gen Surg 2002), graduated from St.Bartholomew's Medical School 1990.
Breast surgical oncology training at Royal Marsden and Charing Cross hospitals (London) as well as The Royal Adelaide Hospital (Australia). Richard was awarded National Oncoplastic Breast Surgery training fellowship and worked with some of the UK's leading Plastic Surgeons at St. Andrew's Dept of Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford (2002 until 2003).
He developed a comprehensive service for reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery at the RUH and introduced the procedure of Sentinel lymph node biopsy to the hospital.
Richard is Director for the Speciality Skills course in Reconstructive Breast surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in London. He is also the Clinical Director of the Breast Unit at the RUH.
Breast Oncoplastic, reconstruction and aesthetic training in St. Andrew's Dept of Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.
Appointed to the RUH:
2003
Area of Special Interest:
Reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery. Aesthetic breast surgery
Contact:
01225 824604
Education:
Mr El-Wakeel graduated in 1980 from the University of Alexandria in Egypt and came to the UK in 1984. Completed further surgical training in East Anglia and South West
Mr El-Wakeel graduated in 1981 from the University of Alexandria in Egypt and came to the UK in 1984. Completed further surgical training in East Anglia and South West.
He acquired his Surgical Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1989. Between 1993 and 1999 worked as a consultant general surgeon in Egypt, where he was involved in some charity work for cancer patients and computer programming in medicine.
Joined the RUH at 2000, and in 2004 did a Masters degree in Medical Research at the University of Southampton. In 2015 did a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education. Currently an Associate Specialist Breast and General Surgeon, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Bristol mentoring undergraduate students, and a Clinical Supervisor at the RUH.
Appointed to the RUH:
2000
Area of Special Interest:
Breast surgery. Secondary interest is laparoscopic surgery and endoscopy.
Contact: 01225 824542
Education:
Mr Jamie McIntosh MD, FRCS (general), MRCS (England), BSc (Hons) is a consultant general surgeon with a sub-specialist interest and training in breast surgery.
He graduated from Bristol University in 1998 from where he was subsequently also awarded a higher degree (MD) for research into breast cancer, with numerous national and international presentations and publications.
He completed his surgical training within the southwest region, specialising in breast cancer and reconstructive breast surgery.
In 2010 he was awarded a National Oncoplastic Breast Surgery training fellowship, completing a year within the department of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Jamie remains interested and involved in research and training both locally and nationally since his appointment in Bath, undertaking committee work on the National Fellowship Training Committee and is the co-author of the national oncoplastic breast surgery syllabus for UK plastic surgical trainees.
Appointed to the RUH:
2012
Education:
Miss Nicola Laurence BSc (Hons), MBBS, MD, FRCS (Gen Surg) graduated from St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London in 1994. She continued her basic surgical training at St Mary's before moving to the southwest. She completed her higher specialist training throughout the Severn region, specialising in breast cancer and reconstructive breast surgery.
In 2006-7 she completed a specialist breast fellowship with the breast and plastics unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital in Perth, Western Australia.
She has an interest in breast cellular biology and completed an MD in this field. She also has an interest in medical education, having completed the certificate of medical education at the University of Bristol.
Appointed to the RUH:
2012
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Oncologists
Dr Rebecca Bowen BMedSci BMBS MRCP PhD is a consultant medical oncologist. She graduated from Nottingham University Medical School in 1998 and was trained in oncology at St Bartholomew's Hospital, the Barts Cancer Institute and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
She has experience in all aspects of medical oncology, including early drug trials, and has special interests in breast and gynaecological cancers.
She was awarded the prestigious Cancer Research UK Gordon Hamilton Fairley Research Fellowship and gained a PhD in the Molecular Characterisation of Breast Cancer.
She is a member of Cancer Research @ Bath.
She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in her field and is principle investigator on a number of clinical trials.
Mark Beresford MA DM MRCP FRCR is a consultant clinical oncologist specialising in the treatment of breast, urological and brain cancers.
He is a graduate of both Cambridge and Oxford Universities and undertook his specialist oncology training in London (UCLH, Charing Cross and Mount Vernon Hospitals).
He has been awarded a DM from Oxford University for research into the assessment of response to chemotherapy using functional imaging techniques.
Dr Beresford is co-founder of the UK Breast Cancer Meeting. He is a member of the NCRI breast cancer clinical studies group, has advised NICE at scoping meetings and technology appraisals and is a committee member of the British Uro-oncology Group.
His areas of interest include neoadjuvant therapy, early prediction of response to treatment and the philosophy of cancer care.
He is author of over 50 publications including scientific papers and textbooks.
Dr Abi Jenner MBChB MRCP FRCR (part 1) qualified in medicine at Bristol University in 1998. She did her general medical training in Bristol. She then trained in Oncology in Cardiff and Bristol. She was appointed Specialty Doctor in Oncology at RUH in April 2012 and her area of interest is breast cancer.
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Clinical Nurse Specialists
Breast Nurse Specialist
The Breast Care Nursing Team
There is always a breast clinical nurse specialist available in clinic and present when a patient is given their diagnosis.
Each patient has a named nurse specialist who supports them through their cancer journey. They also offer support to women with benign breast conditions.
The Team members are:
- Cherry Miller
- Kate Hope
- Debbie Cole
Telephone:
01225 824057 (Monday – Friday 9-5)
The Breast Care Nursing team run specialist clinics on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays which deal with:
- Prostheses fitting
- Breast Inflation/Deflation(post reconstruction surgery)
- Nipple and Areola Tattooing (post reconstruction surgery)
- Management of Seroma
- Complex Wound management
They liaise closely with other cancer and nursing specialists in both the RUH and in the community and provide specialist support to women with cancer.
Secondary Breast Cancer
Secondary Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists:
- Rachael Bolitho
- Jane O'Mahoney
01225 826465 (ansaphone)
ruh-tr.secondarybreastcns@nhs.net
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Healthcare Assistants
The unit is also staffed by Breast Healthcare Assistants who assist the medical and nursing staff in the breast unit clinics and diagnostics. They have all received breast specific training to support these very specialised surgical and imaging clinics.
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Radiographers
There is a team of senior radiographers who are specialists in mammography. They are all very experienced and work closely with the radiologists, surgeons and clinical nurse specialists across all areas of the breast unit.
The lead radiographer is Alison Smith supported by her colleagues, Jane Hutchison, Katherine Knight, Lesley Waring and Sue Porter.
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Administration Staff
Office Manager
Carly Frape
Carly is responsible for the administrative and clerical services supporting patient activity in the unit, leading the team of receptionists and clerical officers.
Breast Unit Secretary
Julie A Stevens
Reception and Office Staff
Our receptionists our clerical staff, are the first point of contact for patients. They are committed to giving a professional and friendly service to all patients.
They also undertake administration duties to support the effective running of the unit.
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Clinical Trials Nurse
Tania Allen
Tania Allen is a Research/Clinical trials nurse who is based in the Oncology and Haematology department, specialising in Breast Cancer and Lung clinical trials.
She and her team ensure that people who are involved in research studies have relevant information and support during and after treatment and the necessary follow up appointments.
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Lymphoedema Practitioner
The lyphoedema nurse-led service supports and treats patients who have developed chronic swelling (oedema) in the tissues of the arm or breast which happens when lymph fluid cannot drain away. This can occur following surgery or radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer.
The Lymphoedema Practitioner is based in the Oncology Outpatients Department.
Their contact details are:
01225 821501
ruh-tr.LymphoedemaClinicInfo@nhs.net
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Acute Oncology Nurse
Emma Girling (01225 826363)
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Cancer Information Centre
Department A12 - Sister Tracey Langton (01225 824049)
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Mike Osbourn - Clinical Psychologist
Appointments available on a Wednesday here at the Breast Unit.
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